Set Structure in your Home

Adding Structure and Rules to your dogs daily life can help make the world of difference.
If you teach obedience but let them get away with ALL of the following things this is probably why you are still having trouble.
Remember dogs are pack animals and in their world someone has to be in charge. They would always much prefer it is us but they do things to test us to make sure we are still in charge. In their world we can't just be buddy buddy with no one in charge. If we show we are in charge through little things in their life they feel more comfortable and are better behaved around new people, they are more confident overal knowing if there were a problem we would take care of it. I see dogs every day that have nervous energy from lack of structure.

Furniture
- By invitation only.
I have no problem with my dog cuddling on the couch with me or sleeping in bed but I want it to be by invitation only. Your dog should not feel it is their right to be on the furniture.
I let them up on my terms not because they are sitting begging to come up.

Attention
- On my terms.
Invite your dog over for attention. Don't give in to the nose bumping your arm while you are sitting down. Just ignore it... after your dog gives up you can then invite your dog over for attention.
Remember that negative attention is still attention to most dogs. If your dog jumps up and you push them down that often becomes a game. Turning away from them, standing up or using a leash to correct the behavior is far better than talking to them or just pushing them down.
If your dog jumps on the couch do not pick them up to set them down a little tug on the collar towards the grown will work.

Food
- Feed Set Meals
Instead of free feeding your dog feed set meals at morning and night. Give your dog 10-20min to eat anything they don't eat should be taken up and not returned until dinner.

Crate
- Crate training is huge and helps to give them more structure and it helps to manage behavior to create new habits instead of allowing your dog to continue practicing bad behavior.
Crating the dog even when your home for short periods of time helps.

Doorway manners
Having your dog wait at doorways before they go through. I am not worried about every doorway in your home but the major ones like
Front Door
Back Door
Side Gates
Garage Door
Car Door

Place
Teaching your dog to go to a dog bed and wait there until released. Place is nice to create calm in a house with multiple dogs. I use place for front door manners. When someone comes to the door I have the dogs go to place and I decide if or when they get to say hi to guests.

Come when Called

“Come when Called”

Pick a word – “Come” / “Here” / “Front” / “To me” / “Fall In”

Now I want you to think about the word you want to use, do you use that to mean anything else in the dogs life? Could you be confusing your dog?

I find that MANY of us. ME included use the words “Come on” ALL the time as encouragement and we use it really casually coming in from the back yard we say it anytime we want our dog to follow and just walk with us. IF this sounds like you DO NOT use the word “Come” you will confuse your dog. It is far easier to start new habits with a word like “Here” then it is to break old habits. 

For the rest of this handout from now on our Recall word will be “Here” but you can choose to use any word as long as your family will be consistent with it. You can use your dog’s name in front of the command if you wish. It isn’t mandatory but I feel it helps to get the dogs attention before the command is given. “Fido Here” If you have multiple dogs it is mandatory to train with the dogs name in front of each command otherwise all the dogs will respond.

When and ONLY when to use “Here”

ONLY use your word when you have a way to reinforce the command if your dog doesn’t listen AND when you are practicing the following exercises.

OR if you are 110% sure they will come without a doubt the 1^st time no matter what.

What if my dog is loose in the house or back yard and I can’t catch or don’t want to chase them to reinforce the command. I know that there are times like… It’s 5am and raining outside. You let Fido out to potty. You have a large yard, Your in your slippers and you want Fido to come back inside you have 2 options.

1.        Say “Fido Here” … if Fido is too entranced in a smell. DO NOT repeat “Here” … Put on your shoes and go get Fido to reinforce the command that you gave. At no time do you EVER want “Here” to be optional to your dog.

2.      Use Anything else if you don’t want to go outside after them. Shake a food bowl, “I have a cookie”, “Fido”, Whistle, “Puppy puppy” or whatever else you want to use. It’s ok to admit that we are lazy sometimes and that’s fine! Just don’t jeopardize all of the hard work you have put in on teaching the command to let the dog believe it is really optional on one occasion.

Training Exercises

Teaching the Foundation

Luring / Teaching Foundation

Start with your dog in front of you on leash. Show your dog a treat command “Fido Here” and bring the food up towards your center and run backwards encouraging your dog “Yes”, “Good Job” etc. Get EXCITED for your dog.I want you to be valuable to your dog and more exciting than the ball, squirrel or skateboard that they might see. When you stop have the treat at your dogs nose level and bring it directly up into you and your dog will automatically sit.  We teach the auto sit as part of “Here” so that once your dog gets to you it gives them something to do. Instead of coming and then running off. Lots of dogs learn all I have to do is come in to you then I can take off again. No…. You come in to me, sit and wait. Then you will Release your dog with whatever your release word is for basic commands we recommend “Free” but again up to you.

Building Excitement

Have someone else restrain your dog by holding your dog on a harness or by holding on to the front of their chest. Instruct the person holding your dog to only release their restraint on your dog when they hear you say “Here” But not until then. While someone is restraining your dog take a treat and taunt your dog with it. “Look what I have”… then run backwards say “Fido Here” as soon as your dog heads toward you keep backing up when your dog gets to you stop and bring your food up and they should sit. Treat and release and Praise. You will see the dramatic increase in excitement and drive to come toward you after practicing this exercise.

Proofing Exercises

Get a 20-30ft long line (leash).

Toss treats crumbled up on the ground.. let your dog go eat some. Sneak away from your dog have some treats in your hand and command “Fido Here” If your dog does not respond make a quick pop on the leash to surprise your dog and immediately after repeat “Here” the second your dog turns toward you back up and start praising right away. Once your dog is to you then stop and bring your food up and they should sit. Treat, praise and release.  The leash correction you make should be enough to surprise your dog but it should in no way pull or force your dog your direction. I want to surprise and get the dogs attention and then I want the dog to choose and come my way on his own. I don’t want to force him to come to me. I want him to WANT to.

Repeat until your dog turns toward and heads toward you on the 1^st time you call them.

If you need to repeat this more than twice you need to evaluate if you have done enough foundation training with your dog that he really understands what “Here” Means or he just doesn’t care and the 1^st two corrections you made when he ignored you weren’t effective. So IF you are certain you have done enough foundation training then you may need to increase the technique of your correction to make it effective.

From here we increase the level of distractions and scenarios in which we practice. 

Please keep in mind that this is a general overview to how we teach the dog to come back to you. In an ideal training program we don't start teaching recall until the dog walks well on a leash and we have already set some other foundation training. We adjust all training plans to the individual dog and owners needs and learning style.  Some dogs may respond and work on a flat collars others might need a different type of training collar. 

Paws In Progress

Dog Training with Eleza Kerfoot

www.pawsinprogress.com

(916)251-7671 

Discover the Potential in your Paws!